The European champions were handed what looks on paper to be a fairly straightforward group after being drawn against Chile, Honduras and Switzerland last night.

However, a top-two finish in Group H would then pit Spain against one of the leading sides from Group G in the next round, with Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea making up that pool.

Far from fearing having to face one of the big guns from the "Group of Death'' though, Casillas is looking forward to the opportunity.

"If we want Spain to have a good tournament then we have to face the best
teams,'' the Real Madrid goalkeeper said. "We cannot get to the final by facing teams that aren't among the favourites.

"We have to play as we have been doing up to now, arrive in the best possible form and if we face a team such as Brazil and Portugal we will have to give our best. To be able to play against important teams is a real pleasure.''

Regarding his side's draw for the group stages, Casillas admitted fortune had smiled on them.

"Of all the teams that we could have faced, we've been lucky, but you need to respect all the teams,'' he added. We are not going to think that we are assured of nine points. If we want to get to the final we have to think that we are going to face important teams.

"There's a long time until the World Cup. There will be a lot of talk before then but we will go there with the intention of doing as well as the Spanish national team is supposed to.''